KOLORN KEEP

WRITTEN BY
PATRICK NILSSON

LOCAL MAP & INTERIOR MAPS

PATRICK NILSSON

 COLUMBIA GAMES INC., N. ROBIN CROSSBY & PATRICK NILSSON 1999

KOLORN
LOCATION: Kingdom of Kaldor
STATUS: Held by Baron of Bastune
POPULATION: 400 (approximately)
HISTORY
The earliest residents of Kolorn where Jarin who
settled down in the area sometime around 1150
BT. By 1000 BT the area was well populated and
organised. When the Battle of Sorrows ended the
Jarin succeeded in remaining independent of
sorts from the Lythian invaders. Instead of
fighting, the two cultures evolved into a hybrid as
the masses of the barbarians settled the area.
They eventually became Hârnic people.
When Lothrim ravaged the northern and middle
Kaldor, the kingdom of Pari, now days western
part of Thelshire, was able to negotiate peace
with the invading tyrant. Pari, as many other
states, where after that a part of his vast empire.
As the news reached the region of Lothrims
demise at the battle of Sirion 120 Tr, most of the
kingdom was fiercely battled over by various
warlords seeking power and land. It was during
that time that the four kingdoms arose and Pari,
became a part of Pagostra.
Pagostra was ruled by Hain Parlis, who built a
stone keep at the current location of Qualdris.
Hain who was an effective ruler sent one of his
sons, Ruthar, to build a keep where an earlier
Jarin fortress had stood in Kolorn. Ruthar who
was a master in designing forts built the keep on
a high hill and on a cliff. It was completed in 160
Tr. Later, Ruthar’s brother Orsin swore fealty to
Serelind in aid against the Pagaelin during the
Migration Wars.
During the fifteen years of civil war in the fourth
century, Kolorn, which was held by a long lost
baron, supported Fierth and his ambitions.
By the end of the restoration of the house of
Artane, Kolorn was held by an incompetent
baron named Jurin. Jurin’s captain of the guard,
Koroch Bastune, saw his opportunity in the
turmoil that ravaged the kingdom. He slew the
baron and took his place. Koroch was a great
leader and successfully rebuilt the keep in 530 Tr
and almost doubled his estates.
When Haldan the elder came upon the throne,
the clan of Bastune had reigned almost eighty
years under the kings of Kaldor. The new king
rewarded one of his earls, Caldeth of Minarsas,
with the barony.
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1
The Bastunes became vassals to the earls of
Vemion and it has been so to the present day.
GOVERNMENT
The baron Bastune holds Kolorn from the earl of
Caldeth of Minarsas. Unfortunately for the baron
of Kolorn, he is a wenching degenerate and his
ability to govern is poor to say the least. His son,
the constable of Kolorn, who is a conscientious
administrator and is very keen on both military
and civil affairs, carries out most of the duties.
Although most civil affairs are handled directly
by the baron, a small council of guildsmen helps
with advice on economical matters.
ECONOMICS
As the settlement of Kolorn is not built near a
major road of importance, most of the trade
conducted in the town comes from Ternua and
Jedes. There are however some export activity
like tasty brandy from the inn, wool from various
herdsmen and timber from the southern forest.
Taxes
Property 6% per annum (residential)
Property 5% per annum (business)
Hawking 10% of goods value
Bonding 2% of goods value per month
RELIGION
The religious climate of Kolorn is very strict. The
church of Peoni has a small temple in town and
there is a chaplain in the keep that represents
Larani. Faiths of other deities are discouraged
and worshipping any of the dark gods is
punishable by death. There are plans of building
a temple for Larani but the Rekela of Ledyne has
to date not taken a firm position about this, even
though the baron’s son has donated several
generous sums to the church and its coffers.
CURRENT POLITICAL AFFAIRS
Although the barony of Kolorn is partially, if not
all, governed by Lyndar the present baron is a
disappointment to both his liege and to his
vassals. The earl of Minarsas is getting tired of
the mistakes bought forward by Greon Bastune
and he has urged Lyndar to deal with the matter
by letting the baron stay as often as he can in his
room at the keep. Lyndar who is both loyal to his
father and his liege often finds himself in the
middle of the two. He hopes that his father will
rest his whenching and start to govern. All
attempts to persuade his father has so far been
futile.
KOLORN
1. CAER KOLORN
The keep where clan Bastune governs the barony
is located on the highest spot in the area. The
keep is built along, and partially on, the side of a
steep cliff. Complete plans for the keep’s four
levels are given on the following pages. (a)
gatehouse/bonded weaponcrafter Surin of
Grolden. (b) bonded Ostler, Herry of Kalas.
2. TEMPLE OF PEONI
The temple was built in 713 Tr after the present
baron’s wife died in riding accident. It’s is
managed by a small society of friars from the
Irreproachable Order, and it is like most Peoni
temples, very poor.
3. VILLAGE OF ALTERAND
The inhabitants of this village consist mostly of
herdsmen and their families. The wool produced
here is sold on the fairs held at Bastune Square.
4. BASTUNE SQUARE
This is where most of Kolorn’s trade is executed.
The fee for renting a market stall is 1d and the
permission to do so is bought at the bonding
house. Fairs are held once every three months,
except in the winter, and are eagerly anticipated
by the locals. Normal market affairs are held
from dawn to dusk.
5. BONDING HOUSE
A scribe who keeps track of all goods brought
into town manages the bonding house. It’s
guarded by a soldier of the garrison during the
day, and at dusk the money collected is brought
to the baron’s son.
6. THE LAST WOLF’S HEAD (Dikel of Ohren)
Size: 6 Quality: *** Prices: Average
Dikel who is the Innkeeper of the Last Wolf’s
Head was once a yeoman from the village of
Yebira near Kolorn. He was able to purchase the
inn after locating and disarming a gang of
brigands whom was terrorising the settlements
of both Kolorn and Jedes. A rumour in the
village states that Dikel found a treasure at the
brigands hideout and it was with that treasure he
bought the inn. If this is the truth or not doesn’t
matter, Dikel makes a tidy profit from owning
the only inn in town. The inn produces excellent
brandy that is major export. As a custom, every
soldier, from the garrison or passing by, get their
third ale for free. Needless to say the place is
often crowded.
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2
7. MILLER (Jylthe of Marris)
Size: 3 Quality: *** Prices: High
The miller of Kolorn is a unpopular man. He is
arrogant, rude and has a habit of overprising.
8. CLOTHIER (Illia of Hobbes)
Size: 2 Quality: **** Prices: Average
The only female guildsman in town is also the
busiest. Her services are highly demanded by the
townsfolk and the surrounding manor
population.
9. CHANDLER (Rhubert of Kliro)
Size: 4 Quality: ** Prices: Low
Rhubert is one lazy man who lets his three young
apprentices do most of the work. Since they are
young lads the quality of the goods produced and
bought are lower than average. It is said that
Lyndar is not happy with Rhubert’s behaviour.
10. METALSMITH (Maldan of Killos)
Size: 2 Quality: **** Prices: Average
The metalsmith of Kolorn is one happy man. He
has made a contract with the Weaponcrafters
Guild that he can manufacture knifes, daggers
and arrows. In return he provides the guild with
a fee each year for this service. Maldan is a ***
weaponcrafter and the Mangai of Tashal is
considering giving him a weaponcrafter
mastership in the next few years.
11. THATCHER / TEAMSTER (Kif of Raem)
Size: 1 Quality: *** Prices: Low
Kif is one of the few, except perhaps the
metalsmith, who is active in two different trades.
When the teamster business is slow he is
working as a thatcher and vice versa.
12. LUIGAR’S HOUSE
This strange foreigner lives by himself at the
outskirts of Kolorn and claims to come from a
distant kingdom named Trierzon. Luigar came to
settlement five years ago and was mistrusted
from the beginning. Fortunately for the man, the
baron’s son hired Luigar as his hunter because of
his love for this sport. The dark foreigner is
performing his duties superbly and he is well
liked by the young lord, who is fond of listening
to the hunter’s stories from far away. Unknown
to all Luigar comes from Emelrene where he fled
the wrath of a baron after he accidentally shot
and killed his wife. The hunter’s worst nightmare
is to see the baron and his men ride in here on
the muddy roads of Kolorn.
KOLORN
THE KEEP
The brilliant Ruthar Harlis originally built the
fortification partially on the cliff that makes the
keep very defensible. The keep is four stories
high and the walls are thick but space, in spite of
this, is plentiful.
GROUND FLOOR
1. The first room in the cellars are crowded with
wine barrels, food and other items that need the
damp and cold to last. The baron enjoys wine
and has made a special wine cellar where various
wines from all over the kingdom is stored. A well
supplies the keep and its inhabitants with water.
In addition to wine cellar there is a small jail
with no current prisoner in the second room on
the ground floor. There are also various goods
stored here.
SECOND FLOOR
2. A single man at arms often guards the
entrance but half of the time this corridor is
empty. On the floor at the entrance door, a
trapdoor has been built and it can be opened and
closed from the guard dormitory.
3. The guard dormitories hold the keep’s
garrison of six men. They sleep in the adjacent
chamber behind the wooden wall. A sergeant
who sleeps on the floor above leads them.
4. The great hall and the kitchen are one and the
same and food is prepared here over an open
fireplace. The meals are served three times a day
and the baron and his son dine first, then the
soldiers and later the servants. Feasts are seldom
held in Kolorn much due to the embarrassing
baron’s behaviour.
THIRD FLOOR
5. The servants of the keep sleep on the ladies
gallery above the great hall. They are lead by a
cook, Halsia of Maron, who is a thin and fragile
looking woman. In spite of this she has total
command of the food and cleaning duties of the
Caer, and the baron enjoys calling her “my
seneschal commoner”. Although not entirely
true, Halsia is one of the few commoners in
Kolorn with real influence. The ladder leads to
the lavatory and the great hall below and up to a
bombardment above. During the cold winter a
brazier is brought up to ease the chilly
temperature and make sleeping more
comfortable for the hard-working servants.
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3
6. The commander of the keep’s garrison sleeps
in this room together with his wife and their
teenage son. Sergeant Hampus is a giant of a
man who suffers heavily from obesity. In spite of
this none of the guards, or the local population,
dares to mock him. The sergeant singled handed
killed three drunk mercenaries defending a maid
when travelling to Tashal. This feat and the
witness of the maid have earned Hampus an
enormous amount of respect. Bisal, Hampus
wife, helps the servants with tasks assigned to
her. Chalid, the sergeant’s son, is currently
training as a soldier and will one day move in
with the rest of them on the floor below.
7. Father Gyridon, a devoted servant of Larani,
manages the chapel. Gyridon acts as an advisor
to Lyndar who feels comfortable to have friend of
faith. He is also deeply concerned with baron
Greon’s immoral behaviour.
FOURTH FLOOR
8. The lowest bombardment is reached from the
gallery below by a trapdoor. There is never any
guard on duty here since the ladder leading up to
the highest floor has better view of the vicinity.
9. The council chamber is often used by Lyndar,
who is the keep’s constable, when meeting with
the vassals of the various estates that surrounds
the small town. The ladder leads to the floor
below and to a trapdoor at the bombardment
above.
10. The dormitory of the baron is rather
luxurious compared to many rooms of equal
status in the kingdom. It is here that the baron
“entertains” his maiden serfs taken from the
villages he controls directly. Baron Greon is more
concerned with which woman he shall bed or
which wine he shall drink, than to govern. For
three years his son Lyndar has been able to
shadow most of his father’s sinful way of living,
but several lords are getting concerned.
Especially since rumours amongst the nobility
are beginning to spread about the baron.
11. Lyndar who is fond of hunting has decorated
his room with a few game trophies. Although his
unpredictable father troubles him he still
manages to govern the estates of the Bastune
clan with grace. Most of the clan’s treasure is
kept in Lyndar’s own chests to prevent his father
from spending it all on unnecessary and
unneeded things. The earl has approved of this
and places great confidence in the young man
KOLORN KEEP INTERIOR SCALE

All Floors
FEET

0 10 20 30

GROUND FLOOR

14
12 4
11
1

+0
+3 +2

SECOND FLOOR

+14
2 10

2 33 10 3 +14
4
1 50

-12

THIRD FLOOR

6
10

+24
5

+24

10
7

FOURTH FLOOR

4 10

4 10
4

4
9 +34

4 8
11
+34

© Patrick Nilsson 1999